Qwen-Image-2.1

Alibaba · Qwen-Image line · image · open weights

Released September 20, 2026Latest in the line

Qwen-Image-2.1 was released by Alibaba on September 20, 2026, as an open-weights image model in the Qwen-Image line.

  • Release 7 of 7 in the Qwen-Image line.
  • Came 222 days after Qwen-Image 2.0, released Feb 10, 2026.
  • Still the newest model in the line.
  • These days the line ships a new model about every 41 days.

What changed

A 7B open-weight model that unifies generation and editing, adds native transparent (RGBA) output and up to 10 reference images, under a research-only license.

Compared with Qwen-Image 2.0 · the model it replaces

Scores 1225 in early blind image comparisons

Arena Text-to-Image — people pick the better image without knowing the model

1225

✦ preliminary score, 19,604 votes · #19 on Arena, Nov 2026 · no Qwen-Image 2.0 score to compare

Scores well above Qwen-Image 2.0 in independent blind image comparisons

Artificial Analysis Text to Image Arena — people pick the better image without knowing the model

1042

▲ up from 990 for Qwen Image 2.0 (March 2026 version) · +52 Elo · Artificial Analysis, Oct 2026

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Where the Qwen-Image line stands

Qwen-Image-2.1 is the current model in this line. The card shows how long it has been since the last release against the line's usual gap and its recent ones — the rhythm, not a date.

Qwen-Image

Alibaba · image line · open weights

Latest: Qwen-Image-2.1 · Sep 20, 2026

Longer than usual48 days since the last release · usual gap 41 days
What changed in Qwen-Image-2.1 →
Days since last release
48
days
Usual gap
41
days
Recent gaps
Qwen-Image-2.1 · Sep 2026
222
Qwen-Image 2.0 · Feb 2026
41
Qwen-Image-2512 · Dec 2025
8
Qwen-Image-Edit-2511 · Dec 2025
92

Every Qwen-Image release

Newest first. See the full line with every card →

  1. Sep 20, 2026Qwen-Image-2.1 · this page
  2. Feb 10, 2026Qwen-Image 2.0
  3. Dec 31, 2025Qwen-Image-2512
  4. Dec 23, 2025Qwen-Image-Edit-2511
  5. Sep 22, 2025Qwen-Image-Edit-2509
  6. Aug 18, 2025Qwen-Image-Edit
  7. Aug 4, 2025Qwen-Image